Iraqi Government Still Blocking Entry of Gasoline to Camp Liberty – Fourth Week

For the fourth consecutive week, Iraqi forces prevented entry of gasoline to Camp Liberty. Previously, in the months of August, September and October, entry of gasoline to the camp was also blocked for many weeks.

The gasoline bought by the residents is wholly consumed by vehicles used for public services or for transport of patients and the injured inside the camp. Commute in camp’s graveled and muddy roads, especially in the winter season, is overbearing and next to impossible for the patients.

As such, on the one hand, Iraqi agents prevent attempts for road construction and asphalting the roads inside the camp and on the other hand by preventing gasoline from reaching the camp that renders the existing vehicles in the camp unusable they further torture the patients and the injured.

Ever since they came to Camp Liberty, based on a trilateral agreement with the Government of Iraq and UNAMI, residents brought in a limited amount of gasoline every week for these vehicles. The supplying company also provided this amount of gasoline at residents’ expense from the outset, but in the past months, Iraqi forces have been hampering the entry of gasoline using absurd pretenses.

This suppressive act that is a blatant breach of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Iraq and UNAMI is being numerously discussed with UNAMI verbally or in writing, but no effective action has been taken to resolve this matter.